Too Much Junk

[Peanut]

In The Trunk.

I'm looking for recommendations of a good weight loss kibble for my girl Lacy.

Up untill 2 months ago, I'm not really sure what she as been eating. Currently I'm feeding Acana Pacificia (when in stock) and thowing in a bag of Grasslands or Wild Prairie when not in stock. All three seem to be doing just fine with this.

Lacy DESPERATELY needs to lose some pounds. I'm feeding her about 1 1/2 cups twice a day with a cup of green beans mixed in.

Just wondering if there is a different food I should be trying?

She weighed in at 138 lbs yesterday.:uhoh2: She DOES NOT have the frame to carry this weight.

Thanks for any info.

 

[charlieinnj]

I don't see why you couldn't cut back to one cup of food 2X/day with the greenbeans added. That would be a good calorie savings. My Oliver is on Orijen 6-fish and gets 1 cup twice daily and his weight remains great!

 

[Peanut]

I don't see why you couldn't cut back to one cup of food 2X/day with the greenbeans added. That would be a good calorie savings. My Oliver is on Orijen 6-fish and gets 1 cup twice daily and his weight remains great!

Was on Orijen 6...too hard to find around here. I did try 1 cup 2x/day for a week or so, but I KEPT getting this, "MAAA... I'm STILL HUNGRY" look.

I don't know, maybe I just need to add another cup of green beans:uglyhammer:

 

[charlieinnj]

Was on Orijen 6...too hard to find around here. I did try 1 cup 2x/day for a week or so, but I KEPT getting this, "MAAA... I'm STILL HUNGRY" look.

I don't know, maybe I just need to add another cup of green beans:uglyhammer:

If she desperately needs to lose some pounds but she's doing well on the food she's currently on, I wouldn't mess with it. There are lots of things you can add to 'bulk' up her meals. I'm sure there's plenty of folks who's dogs eat WAY more than ours do but they still get the "Maaa...I'm hungry" look. If you cut back the kibble to a cup and even added a cup of green beans, etc. you'd still be way ahead of the game.

 

[Tricia2]

I cut LuLu back to 1 cup of Acana Pacifica twice a day to get her weight down last summer when the vet scolded me for letting her get too heavy. My shepherd, who is half her weight eats the same amount and is VERY lean. I think these dogs are very thrifty-keepers and efficient processors of nutrients.

To add bulk, I add lots of veggies that are low in calories but high in fiber. They love brocolli, cauliflower, carrots and brussel sprouts. I steam up a bunch of veggies lightly and add a cup or so with each meal with a dallop of low fat yogurt and a couple of squirts of salmon oil. Caution: The veggies can make them a bit gassy so start slow and gradually increase or you'll need a gas mask.

Lu would eat all day long, so I also have to watch her treats and stick to high protein, low fat treats cut into miniscule pieces or she'll pack on the weight. Her current high value snack treat is dried liver but I use big, fat frozen peas sprinkled with a handful of low fat-parmesan cheese and lightly baked for everyday training.

Honestly, I think she has the metabolism of a tree sloth.

 

[RiverTheNewf]

Lu would eat all day long, so I also have to watch her treats and stick to high protein, low fat treats cut into miniscule pieces or she'll pack on the weight. Her current high value snack treat is dried liver but I use big, fat frozen peas sprinkled with a handful of low fat-parmesan cheese and lightly baked for everyday training.

Honestly, I think she has the metabolism of a tree sloth.

:lol: Seriously, the peas sound good! We might try that. I think River's whole meaning of existence and reason for dragging herself off of our comfy down comforter every morning just may be freeze-dried liver.

I want to meet Lacy and her badonka-donk! No sign of River going into heat yet so we may yet come to the parade. I hope you have good luck getting the weight off of her. No advice here-but I might try those pea-treats for my little food snarfer.

 

[Peanut]

:lol: Seriously, the peas sound good! We might try that. I think River's whole meaning of existence and reason for dragging herself off of our comfy down comforter every morning just may be freeze-dried liver.

I want to meet Lacy and her badonka-donk! No sign of River going into heat yet so we may yet come to the parade.

:lol: I'll send ya an email with the new parade info I have:lol:

 

[Rhonda]

Hey Tammy, I think you sent me Jackie's info about the parade but I did email you back

 

[NessaM]

I cut Nanook's food down to one cup of kibble twice a day, with a double handful of frozen green beans chopped up added to it. At first he ate AROUND the green beans, but at this point he's too hungry to leave anything in his bowl. I add some warm water to the mix, as well. If she avoids the veggies, try grinding them up in a blender or food processor first.

A little non-fat yogurt, if she's not lactose intolerant, can be added as well to make her meals more interesting - I had someone write to me and suggest food processoring an entire head of lettuce, a small amount of non-fat yogurt and a few squirts of salmon oil to make canine coleslaw. There's only 76 calories in a large head of lettuce!

While cutting down her calories will help her lose weight, you should also be increasing her exercise. Just like with humans, eating less helps - but building muscle will help burn fat far faster than just dietary changes alone. Nanook and I are both feeling the burn, lately! *laughing*

Nanook is such a good "keeper" that he could probably put on weight eating only air, if he weren't also exercised. He's used to walking 3 miles a day, or so - I think part of his recent weight gain is because I was sick for three weeks over the holidays, and couldn't take him for his normal walks. We're walking and jogging more than three miles daily, now. Tricia, I would LOVE it if he had the metabolism of a tree sloth. I'm not even sure Nanook HAS a metabolism.

 

[Peanut]

Hey Tammy, I think you sent me Jackie's info about the parade but I did email you back

I guess that's what you get for having your email address!

 

[Ivoryudx]

On a 7 year old Newf who hasn't seemed to increase food intake, but is gaining weight, I would have a full thyroid panel done. I hate to keep harping on thyroid, but it seems to be more common in our breed than we realize.

 

[victoria1140]

Beau is not shifting weight either and he is down to one cup of Orijen twice a day . He gets tons of exercise, has had full bloodwork done and yet still maintains it.

Hope fully come spring/summer he will go back to water training and will tone up then

 

[Peanut]

On a 7 year old Newf who hasn't seemed to increase food intake, but is gaining weight, I would have a full thyroid panel done. I hate to keep harping on thyroid, but it seems to be more common in our breed than we realize.

Yep... Your right.

She is a rescue, I've had her for just two months. I'm not sure what her daily intake was in the past. She is due for her shots at the end of the month and I will tell vet to do everything. Thanks.

 

[CMDRTED]

I feed Arcana, I feel that 1 1/2 cups per feeding is too much. I would cut back to one cup per meal. Add some blueberries, reaspberries, with the green beans. Try that and see.

 

[Ivoryudx]

......1 1/2 cups per feeding is too much....

Really? For an adult dog?

I dunno, I would be looking for another food or a health issue if this is to much. Even my 13 year old eats 4 cups a day of Blue Buffalo a day and I don't see enough of a difference with Arcana to be feeding that little. My 4 month old is eating 3-3 1/2 cups a day and both are a very good weights.